Mission
To support Brabners in its mission to make the difference, facilitating the delivery of True North: a network of like-minded organisations committed to supporting the future of the North.
Campaign
Seven Hills has worked closely with Brabners to launch True North, initially supporting a series of roundtable discussions in locations across the North. Each gathering brought together 15-20 leaders from the enterprise ecosystem and beyond, to discuss the landscape for change in the region: where there are strengths and opportunities for improving cross-regional collaboration, increased social prosperity, and positive economic outcomes.
The discussions informed an initial thought leadership report, Defining Northern Ambition, offering insights from the roundtables alongside spotlights on impactful organisations in the region – sharing best practice and inspiration.
Launched in September 2023 at Brabners’ offices in Manchester, the report led to the formation of the True North network, which unites the region’s most influential and purpose-driven voices to co-create a path forward with a view to unlocking the true potential of the Northern economy.
In order to continue delivering impact, Seven Hills has since supported Brabners in growing the True North network and defining its objectives. Working closely with CEO Robert White, an advisory council was formed that is tasked with exploring practical opportunities to deliver positive change in the region across True North’s four key thematic areas: People, Skills & The Future; Innovation & Change; Sustainable Growth; and Purpose & Social Impact.
Each of these themes is supported by a working group, co-chaired by an influential leader in that space in the North alongside a senior representative from Brabners, and overseen by Robert White, alongside Seven Hills co-founder and chair Michael Hayman MBE, and Professor Maggie O’Carroll, CEO of The Women’s Organisation. The True North advisory council’s working groups will use data insights to identify where opportunities exist for delivering change – leveraging a new platform built exclusively for True North by Open Innovations – an independent, not-for-profit open data organisation.
Further to the work of the advisory council, Seven Hills supports Brabners in creating convening moments throughout the year and in developing thought leadership insights on relevant topics to True North’s aims – including devolution, social mobility, placemaking, and regional investment – as well as a series of ‘Northern Star’ case studies that spotlight innovative and impactful organisations across the region.
True North is a new network, committed to supporting the future of the North. We seek to promote increased collaboration between like-minded partners on a region-wide basis — promoting each other’s strengths.”
– Robert White, CEO, Brabners
Momentum
Within nine months of launching True North, more than 250 people had signed up to join the network, based across all locations of the North – creating opportunities for new partnerships and collaboration that may otherwise have not been uncovered.
A summer reception, held in June 2024, launched the True North Data Explorer and introduced the advisory council’s co-chairs to members of the network – providing a platform for the next stage of impactful activity to take place.
True North has also sought to engage with a wider range of stakeholders across the North from outside of the network, specifically the public sector – with a letter written to key ministers of the new Government, who also represent constituencies in the North, as well as elected mayors in the region. The aim is to foster a strong relationship between private enterprise and civil society, with local and national government, to support growth in the region.
Insights from a further series of roundtables and regular meetings of the True North Advisory Council will inform a second report, Scaling Northern Ambition, to be launched in December 2024.
